Hub



July 20, 1937.

HUB

Original Filed May 10, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z2 3 66 59 I "w 65 55 58 56 5269 46 65 2 4s Z2 33 20 483 50 19 21 L 27 68 38 I6 I I L w 51 62 s2 54 30. Z J 78 36 42/ 1 X a 29 0 23 77 22 7 X (1W elm/W A. ALESSI-GRIMALDI 87,684

July 20, 1937. A. ALESSl-GRIMALbI HUB 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed May 10, 1955 Patented July 20, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application May 10, 1935, Serial No. 20,877. Renewed March 1, 1937. In France May 12, 1934 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to hubs for wheels having a wide rim or twinrims of the type including a swivel and vertical guiding means arranged in such manner that the wheel can, at any time, by oscillating about a horizontal axis at right angles to the longitudinal .axis of the axle, assume a position perpendicular to the surface of the road, whatever he the transverse in clination of the portion of said road surface upon which the wheel or the twin wheels are bearing.

The object of the present invention is to provide a hub of the type above mentioned which is better adapted to meet the requirements of practice than hubs of this type made up to this time.

According to a first feature of the present invention, the vertical guiding of the part mounted on the swivel joint is ensured through a bearing, preferably a roller bearing, one of the races of which is provided with two vertical fiat guiding surfaces cooperating with suitable slideways, while the other race is rigid or integral with said part mounted on the swivel joint.

According to another feature of the present invention the guiding member which carries these slideways is mounted in an oscillating manner on -a cylindrical bearing of the axle or of the axle casing in such manner that these slideways may remain vertical whatever be the angular position of the axle or of the axle casing in the course of the displacements of the wheels with respect to. the vehicle body corresponding to deformations of the suspension springs.

According to still another feature of the invention, this guiding member serves also to maintain in correct axial position the brake drum.

Preferably, a shock absorbing device brakes the oscillations of the hub. This shock absorbing device consists for instance of an elastic annular member inserted between the web of the wheel, or of one of the wheels in the case of twin wheels, and the annular element that carries the brake drum.

Other features of the present invention will result from the following detailed description of specific embodiments thereof.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, given merely by way of example, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a hub according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, but on a reduced scale;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatical view explaining the advantage of the oscillating connection of the guiding member with the axle casing;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view analogous to Fig, 2, showing a. modification;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on-the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3 the driving axle I must transmit a rotary movement to a wheel includingrtwin rims 2 and 3, provided with pneumatic tires 4 and 5, or the like.

The axle I, which is provided atits outer end with longitudinal grooves 6 for transmitting the rotary motion, is housed, in the usual manneninside an axle casing I which is provided at 8 with a shoulder and the outer end of which is threaded as shown at 9. A system including a ring-shaped member H, a ball bearing [2, a tube [3 acting as a distance member, and a second ball bearing I4 is applied against this shoulder 8 by means of a nut I0 screwed upon the threaded end 9 of the axle casing 1.

Between the respectiveouter races of the ball bearings l2 and I4, there is interposed a member l5 of the shape of a body of revolution about the axis XX of axle I. This member l5 may be mounted directly upon the outer race of ball bearing l2. But, in the embodiment shown in the drawings, there is interposed, between this outer race and member I5, a member l6 fixed to member l5 by means of screws [1. A threaded ring l8 screwed in this member l6 fixes the outer race of ball bearing I 2 with respect to the whole of parts l5 and I6, which facilitates the assembly. The whole of the parts l8l6l5l2 is mounted in position after ring I I has been mounted on axle casing I. The tube l3 and ball bearing M are placed and the whole is fixed in position by means of nut l0.

Member I5 is connected with axle I, in such manner to rotate together with it, for instance manner between the end of the axle l, in which.

it is engaged, and a plate 24, fixed by means of screws 25 or otherwise on connecting piece I9.

This spring 23 is intended to prevent any longi- There may be provided two, three, or even more,

of these pins 28.

On the spherical surface 21 there is mounted an oscillating system having an inner spherical surface the center of which is at 0 and the radius of which is equal to the radius of spherical surface 21. This oscillating system includes, in order to permit of assembling the parts, two elements 3| and 32 connected together by means of a nut 33. Element 3| is provided with longitudinal slots 34, of rectangular shape, through each of which passes a pin 28 rigid with member |5. Preferably, a piece 35 having, in plan view, a square outline is interposed between each pin 28 and the edges of the corresponding slot .intended to cooperate with brake shoes 65.

34, the width of said piece 35 being equal to that of said slot 34, while the slot is longer than piece 35. Element 3| is prolonged so as to form the inner 'race (Figs. 1 and 2) of a roller, needle, or similar bearing 31. The outer race 38 of this bearing is provided with two flat surfaces 39 and 48 (Fig. 2) parallel to each other and diametrally opposed. These flat surfaces are in cooperating tions 46 and 41, coaxial with the axle Through cylindrical portion 41, guiding member 43 is centeredabout the cylindrical bearing of a piece 48,

also coaxial with the spindle. Pieces 43 and 48 cannot move with respect to each other in the direction of axis XX. But member 43 can oscillate about member 48 owing to the provision of lugs 49 (Figs. 1-3) screwed in member 43 and engaged through slots 58 extending in the circular direction and provided in member 48.

This member 48 is provided with a base 5| (Fig. 1) through which it is fixed on ring II, which is axially mounted on axle casing 1 against the shoulder 8 on which it bears. Member 48 is fixed on ring II by means of stud bolts 52 and nuts 53. Preferably, in order to avoid the necessity of making holes'extending throughout member 48, nuts 53 are housed in recesses 54 provided in the outer part of bases 5|. Pieces 43 and 48 are arrangedin such manner that, account being taken of the fact that piece 43 can turn through a certain angle (corresponding to the angular length of slots 50) with respect to member 48, guiding faces 4| and 42 can, by oscillation of said piece 43 with respect to piece 48 come into a vertical position and remain in vertical position in spite of any possible oscillations of piece 48 about axis XX.

On the oscillating system 3|-32 there is fixed, for instance by means of screws 55, a cylindrical member '56 provided with an annular flange 51 on which the flanges 60 and BI of the twin rims 2 and 3 are fixed, by means of bolts 58 and nuts 59. Furthermore, a cover 82, screwed at 63 on member 56 protects the whole of the mechanism above described.

The device is completed by a brake drum 64, This drum 64 is fixed, at 66, on a flange 61 prolonged by two cylindrical parts 68 and 69 coaxial with the axle Cylindrical portion 68 forms the innerrace of a roller bearing 18 the outer race of which consists of the portion 46 of .guiding member 43. As for part 69, it is provided with holes 1| through which extend the ends of pins 28.

Finally, an annular member 12, made of an elastic material (rubber or the like) either solid or hollow, (or any other shock absorbing elastic device, including springs, for instance) is interposed between flange 51 and flange 61.

The operation of the device is the following: The rotation of the wheel about axis XX is transmitted from axle I through ribs 6 and 28, piece l9, piece |5 journalled on bearings l2 and I4, pins 28 and. pieces 3|32. It should be noted that, in the case of a wheel that is not to be driven by its axle, only the connection 628|9 is to be done away with. In this case, the wheel would turn freely, being journalled about bearings l2 and M. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the drum 64 of the brake, centered in piece 43, is also caused to rotate together with the axle.

If the surface of the road on which the wheel is bearing is parallel to axis XX, pieces 3|-32 occupy, on member |5 the position shown in the drawings. If, on the contrary, the surface of the road is inclined with respect to axis XX, the whole of the parts 3|32--5B6|l6| becomes inclined with respect to axis XX, by rotation of pieces 3| and 32 about the center of the spherical portion of piece I5. Owing to the guiding action of vertical faces 4| and 42 of piece 43, bearing 36-31-38 can move only in a vertical direction, so' that, in point of fact, the wheel can oscillate only about a horizontal axis at right angles to axis XX passing through center 0. Owing to this rotation, the wheel assumes a position at right angles to the surface of the road on which it bears, in such manner that the whole of its outer periphery bears upon the ground. The maximum load that can be supported by the wheel is thus considerably increased.

Owing to the presence of bearing 3631-38, the frictional stresses due to the rotation of the wheel are eliminated between piece 3| and the surfaces 4|42 of piece 43, the wear and tear of which is thus considerably reduced.

On the other hand, owing to the provision of the slots 58 of piece 48, piece 43 can oscillate with respect to axis XX, in such manner that the guiding surfaces 4|-42 remain vertical whatever be the angular displacement of the axle casing 1 and of piece 48 resulting from the rotation of the whole of the axle and its transmission shaft about the center 0' (Fig. 4). of the front Cardan joint, when the rear wheel or wheels passes over an obstacle. This is due to the fact that when the axle casing 1 comes into position 1' (Fig. 4) surfaces 4| and 42, instead of assuming the inclined positions 4|- -42' that they would be given if they were angularly connected with casing 1, come into vertical positions 4| -42, under the action of the faces 39 and 40 of the outer race 38. As a matter of fact, the whole is free to turn and tends to assume the position of equilibrium for which piece 43 is in the lowest possible position. It is clear that this position can be obtained only when surfaces 39, 40, 4|, and 42 are vertical.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown a modification in which the flat surfaces 39 and 40 are carried by the inner race 36 of the roller bearing cooperating with the corresponding surfaces 4|-- and 42 of piece 43 the outer-race 38 of this bearing being, on the contrary, rigid with the oscillating piece 3|.

In a general manner, while I have, in the above description, disclosed what I deem to be practical and eflicient embodiments of the present invention, it should be well understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto as there might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition and form of the parts without departing from the principle of the present invention as comprehended within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A hub for a wheel having a wide rim or twin rims to be mounted on an axle including a nonrotary axle element, which comprises, in combination, a first hub element journalled about said axle element,coaxially therewith, a second hub element rotatable with respect to said first hub element about a. horizontal axis at right angles to said axle, and angularly connected with said first hub element about the axis of said axle, a bearing including two races one of which is rigid with said second mentioned hub element, and means carried by said axle member for guiding the other race of said bearing in a vertical direction.

2. A hub for a wheel having a wide rim or twin rims to be mounted on an axle including a nonrotary axle element, which comprises, in combination, a first hub element journalled about said axle element coaxially therewith, a second hub element rotatable with respect to said first hub element about a horizontal axis at right angles to said axle, and angularly connected with said first hub element about the axis of said axle, a bearing including two races one of which is rigid with said second hub element, the other ment, and means carried by said guiding member for maintaining said brake drum in coaxial relation with respect to said axle.

4. A hub according to claim 2 further including means for braking the oscillations of the second hub element with respect to the first hub element.

*5. A hub according to claim 2 including an annular flange rigid with said second hub element, a. brake drum, a flange carrying said brake drum carried by said first hub element, and an annular elastic member interposed between these two flanges.

6. A hub according to claim 2 in which said first mentioned parallel plane surfaces are provided on the outer periphery of the outer race of said bearing.

'7. A hub according to claim 2 in which said first mentioned parallel plane surfaces are provided on the inner periphery of the inner race of said bearing.

' ANTONINO ALESSI-GRIMALDI. 

